Shoppers brace for potential storm

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By Matt Durr

Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI

By Matt Durr

Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 1:03 PM

By Matt Durr
Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 1:03 PM

Hillsdale, Mich.

matt.durr@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — As forecasts predict up to six inches of snowfall over the next couple days, residents started bracing for what could be a few tough days ahead.“If I’m prepared I don’t worry so much. If I’m not prepared, it drives me crazy,” said Osseo resident Alissa Janik, who was buying groceries at Market House in Hillsdale.While the amount of snow may not be a problem for some residents, others that live on the outskirts of the county, might not have safe roads to travel on for a day or so. With a mixture of snow, rain and ice expected, residents like Janik have to prepare for the worst.Two years ago, Janik and her family went six days without power in their home because of a storm. Even though the family had a generator, they were worried about using it and were forced to huddle around the fireplace to stay warm for nearly a week.Since then Janik has made sure her family is ready for anything Mother Nature throws at them.“I kept my kids home from school today too so that they could help me carry in wood and stuff like that,” Janik said. “I don’t let things like that anymore. We get what we need beforehand.“Quick food and things that if I lose power, I can plug in my microwave and we can have a hot meal that way,” Janik said.Other residents said that while they haven’t been snowed in recently, when forecasts suggest hazardous weather is coming, they like to stock up.“It affects me quite a lot. I bought enough for a couple days,” said Bill Guajardo of Hillsdale. “If it was like one of those storms they got down south, I would have stocked up for a week or so.”Guajardo said he plans on staying home for the next couple days if the predictions are accurate.Billie Jo Zamora of Osseo made a specific trip to the store for just a couple items. Having gathered plenty of food earlier in the winter, Zamora wasn’t in need of much.“Milk and bread,” Zamora said. “Just the basics. I had a lot of stuff because I stocked up before, but I figured I’d hit it before all the rain and ice hits.”